WO2009062501A1

WO2009062501A1 - Espagnolette assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2009062501A1
Application number: PCT/DK2007/000494
Authority: WO
Inventors: Agner Juhl Graversen
Original assignee: Vkr Holding A/S
Priority date: 2007-11-12
Filing date: 2007-11-12
Publication date: 2009-05-22

Abstract

An espagnolette assembly (1) comprising a mounting plate (2) comprising two screw holes (6b, 6c) through which screws for securing the mounting plate to the edge of a wing element are arranged when said espagnolette assembly is mounted, said screw holes being placed essentially on the longitudinal centre line of the mounting plate, an actuating mechanism (5), a latch (4), and a connecting rod (3) which connects the actuating mechanism and the latch such that operation of the actuating mechanism activates the latch. The connecting rod is furthermore arranged essentially centred with respect to the mounting plate in the vicinity of the latch and is arranged offset from the longitudinal centre line of the mounting plate in the vicinity of the screw holes.

Description

Espagnolette Assembly

The current invention relates to an espagnolette assembly comprising a mounting plate comprising two screw holes through which screws for secur- ing the mounting plate to the edge of a wing element are arranged when said espagnolette assembly is mounted, said screw holes being placed essentially on the longitudinal centre line of the mounting plate, an actuating mechanism, a latch, and a connecting rod which connects the actuating mechanism and the latch such that operation of the actuating mechanism activates the latch.

Espagnolette assemblies of this kind are typically used on wing elements, for example doors and windows.

Description of related art

Espagnolette assemblies are known in many different forms. An espagnolette assembly is at its most basic level comprised of the features as mentioned in the opening paragraph. For long espagnolette assemblies, there is usually a conflict between the mounting screws and the connecting rod which connects the actuating mechanism and the latches. This has been solved in a number of different ways. One example is shown in SE 514 432 C2. In this espagnolette assembly, the connecting rod is placed in the center of the mounting plate and the screw holes for the mounting screws are arranged in the mounting plate on either side of the connecting rod. Two other examples are shown in SE 501 196 C2 and in GB 2 325 694. In these two examples, the screw holes for the mounting screws are centered on the mounting plate and the connecting rod is placed to one side of said screw holes. A further typical solution is to arrange the connecting rod "flat" and then put slots in the con- necting rod through which the mounting screws can be accessed. The screw holes for the mounting screws are then placed centred on the mounting plate, but in line with the slots in the connecting rod. An example of this type of espagnolette assembly is shown in EP 0 725 198 B1.

Summary of the invention

One aspect of the current invention to provide an espagnolette assembly which is an alternative to the above mentioned systems and which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

This aspect is provided by the current invention in that the connecting rod of an espagnolette assembly as mentioned in the introductory paragraph is arranged essentially centred with respect to the mounting plate in the vicinity of the latch and is arranged offset from the longitudinal centre line of the mounting plate in the vicinity of the screw holes. In this way, latches which require a centred connecting rod can be used together with a mounting plate with centred screw holes while still allowing access to the screws without disturbing the connecting rod.

In one embodiment of the espagnolette assembly, the connecting rod can be arranged essentially centred with respect to the mounting plate in the vicinity of the actuating mechanism. This allows the use of an actuating mechanism which requires a centred connecting rod.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting rod comprises a cross section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod which is essentially rectangular and that the connecting rod is arranged such that the longitudinal axis of said cross section is essentially perpendicular to the plane of the mounting plate. The assembly could also comprise two latches and a single connecting rod which connects the two latches and the actuating mechanism. This is an embodiment which results in a simple assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, the latch could be arranged centred with respect to the longitudinal centre axis of the mounting plate. In one example of this type of latch, the latch could comprise a U shaped cross section and the two ends of the U-shaped cross section could be arranged on either side of the connecting rod. This provides an effective balanced manner of transferring the motion from the connecting rod to the latch.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting rod could be made from a length of plate material which is bent such that the portion of the rod which is in the vicinity of the screw holes is offset from the centre line of the mounting plate when the connecting rod is assembled with the mounting plate. The axes of the bends in the connecting rod could be arranged perpendicular to the plane of the mounting plate.

In order to fasten the connecting rod to the mounting plate, the assembly could furthermore comprise a fastening element which fastens the connecting rod to the mounting plate in a manner which allows the connecting rod to be displaceable along an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mounting plate. The fastening element could comprise a U shaped cross section and the connecting rod could be arranged inside the U shaped cross section. The ends of the U shaped cross section could then be fastened to the mounting plate.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising/comprised of when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated fea- tures, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. For example, claim 1 states that the assembly comprises one latch. But this should be understood as comprising at least one latch. Any number of latches greater than one could be imagined. Claim 1 also states that the assembly comprises two latches, but again, this should be under- stood as at least two latches.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with refer- ence to embodiments shown by the enclosed figures. It should be emphasized that the embodiments shown are used for example purposes only and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of an espagnolette assembly according to the current invention.

Figure 2 shows a top view of the espagnolette assembly of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a perspective exploded view of the espagnolette assembly of figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the connecting rod of the espagnolette assembly of figure 1.

Detailed description of the embodiments

The espagnolette assembly 1 of figures 1-3 comprises a mounting plate 2, a connecting rod 3, two latches 4, an actuating mechanism 5 and screw holes

6a, 6b, 6c, 6d in the mounting plate through which mounting screws (not shown) are used to mount the mounting plate to an edge of a wing element (not shown) for example a door or window. The connecting rod 3 is displace- ably fastened to the mounting plate with fastening elements 7.

In the current embodiment, the mounting plate 2 is formed from a flat piece of rectangular plate material. There are four screw holes 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d through which mounting screws can be inserted when the espagnolette assembly is to be mounted to the edge of a wing element such as a door or a window. The screw holes are placed on the longitudinal centre axis of the mounting plate. Two of the holes 6a, 6d are arranged at each end of the mounting plate, one on each side of the latches away from the centre of the mounting plate. The screws which pass through these holes are not in conflict with the connecting rod. However, two of the holes 6b, 6c are arranged between the two latches. Screws which are inserted through these holes will have to pass the connecting rod.

In the current embodiment, the connecting rod 3 is formed as one single piece. Its cross section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod is rectangular and it is arranged "upright" with regards to the mounting plate. In other words, the connecting rod is arranged such that the longitudinal axis of the cross section of the connecting rod is perpendicular to the plane of the mounting plate. The connecting rod is also arranged such that its longitudinal axis is arranged essentially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the mounting plate.

In order to allow the connecting rod to pass the mounting screws inserted through the screw holes 6b, 6c the connecting rod is bent such that in the vicinity of the screw holes, the connecting rod is offset from the longitudinal centre axis of the mounting plate. Furthermore, in the current embodiment, the connecting rod is bent such that in the vicinity of the latches and in the vicinity of the actuating mechanism, the connecting rod is arranged essentially on the longitudinal centre axis of the mounting plate. In the current embodiment, the bends are arranged such that their axes are arranged perpendicular to the plane of the mounting plate. Figure 4 shows the connecting rod by itself. The connecting rod shown in the figure can be divided into five portions, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and 3e. The portions 3a and 3e are located at the latches and are arranged centred on the longitudinal centre axis of the mounting plate when the connecting rod is assembled on the mounting plate. The portions 3b and 3d are offset from the longitudinal centre axis of the mounting plate and are arranged in the vicinity of the screw holes in the mounting plate. In the current embodiment, the portion 3c is arranged centred on the longitudinal centre axis of the mounting plate. The portion 3c is located in the vicinity of the actuating mechanism 5. In other embodiments it could be imagined that the portion 3c was also offset from the longitudinal centre axis of the mounting plate.

The fastening elements 7 which hold the connecting rod in place are formed from a piece of plate material which has been stamped into the desired flat shape and then bent into a U shape. The free ends 8 of the U shaped fastening elements are attached to the mounting plate. In the current embodiment, the free ends of the U shaped fastening elements are formed as tabs which are insertable in corresponding recesses 9 in the mounting plate. Once the tabs are inserted in the recesses, the protrusions are deformed in order to wedge them in the recesses. The fastening elements are furthermore designed such that they don't press against the connecting rod, but just con- strain its motion to displacement along its longitudinal axis. This means that the connecting rod is only displaceable along a direction which is essentially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the mounting plate.

The latches 5 are arranged one on either side of the actuating mechanism 5, at each their end of the mounting plate. They are pivotably attached to the connecting rod via pins 10 which are inserted in holes 11 in the connecting rod 3. The latches and the fastening elements 8 are formed to correspond to each other such that when the latches are displaced by the connecting rod, the latches are forced to pivot with respect to the connecting rod. When the latches are rotated in a first direction, the latches protrude through recesses 12 in the mounting plate. When the latches are rotated the opposite direction, the latches retract from the recesses 12 in the mounting plate.

The actuating mechanism 5 is located around the centre of the mounting plate. The actuating mechanism is comprised of two plates 13 arranged on either side of the connecting rod which passes through the centre of the actuating mechanism. The two plates are spaced apart and held together by spacers 14 which are riveted into holes in the plates. A rotatable element 15 with a square hole 16 is pivotably arranged between the two plates. A handle (not shown) with square shaft can be inserted into the square hole of the ro- tatable element in order to rotate the rotatable element. A link 17 is pivotably attached to both the rotatable element 15 and the connecting rod 3 in a way such that when the rotatable element is rotated, the connecting rod is displaced. One of the plates 13 furthermore comprises flanges 18 which are bent inwardly in order to hold the connecting rod in place in the actuating mechanism 5.

It is to be noted that the figures and the above description have shown the example embodiments in a simple and schematic manner. The specific mechanical details have not been described in detail since the person skilled in the art should be familiar with these details and they would just unnecessarily extend this description.

Claims

1. Espagnolette assembly (1 ) comprising: a. a mounting plate (2) comprising two screw holes (6b,6c) through which screws for securing the mounting plate to the edge of a wing element are arranged when said espagnolette assembly is mounted, said screw holes being placed essentially on the longitudinal centre line of the mounting plate, b. an actuating mechanism (5), c. a latch (4), and d. a connecting rod (3) which connects the actuating mechanism and the latch such that operation of the actuating mechanism activates the latch, characterized in that said connecting rod is arranged essentially centred with respect to the mounting plate in the vicinity (3a, 3e) of the latch and is arranged offset from the longitudinal centre line of the mounting plate in the vicinity (3b, 3d) of the screw holes.

2. Espagnolette assembly (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the connecting rod (3) is arranged essentially centred with respect to the mounting plate (2) in the vicinity of the actuating mechanism (3c).

3. Espagnolette assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting rod (3) comprises a cross section taken perpen- dicular to the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod which is essentially rectangular and that the connecting rod is arranged such that the length of said cross section is essentially perpendicular to the plane of the mounting plate (2).

4. Espagnolette assembly (1 ) according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterized in that the assembly comprises two latches (4) and in that the assem- bly comprises a single connecting rod (3) which connects the two latches and the actuating mechanism (5).

5. Espagnolette assembly (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-4, char- acterized in that the latch (4) is arranged centred with respect to the longitudinal centre axis of the mounting plate (2).

6. Espagnolette assembly (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the latch (4) comprises a U shaped cross section and in that the two ends of the U-shaped cross section are arranged on either side of the connecting rod (3).

7. Espagnolette assembly (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the connecting rod (3) is made from a length of plate material which is bent such that the portion of the rod which is in the vicinity of the screw holes (3b, 3d) is offset from the centre line of the mounting plate when the connecting rod is assembled with the mounting plate.

8. Espagnolette assembly (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the axes of the bends in the connecting rod (3) are perpendicular to the plane of the mounting plate (2).

9. Espagnolette assembly (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-8, char- acterized in that the assembly further comprises a fastening element

(7) which fastens the connecting rod (3) to the mounting plate (2) in a manner which allows the connecting rod to be displaceable along an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mounting plate.

10. Espagnolette assembly (1 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that the fastening element (7) comprises a U shaped cross section and in that the connecting rod is arranged inside the U shaped cross section and in that the ends (8) of the U shaped cross section are fastened to the mounting plate (2).